The deadly crash, which happened shortly after 8:45 p.m., is still the deadliest commercial aviation accident to strike the United States in more than 15 years.
According to preliminary accounts, both aircraft were flying within a busy area under clear nighttime sky, following their assigned flight paths.
Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation, has promised a comprehensive inquiry and emphasized that ensuring public safety comes first.
Recovery workers are painstakingly reconstructing the sequence of events that resulted in the catastrophic disaster in the meantime.
